Saturday, 31 August 2013

This post takes us back at Carisbrooke Castle where last time I showed you the Jousting (see Tuesday 27 August), however I am going to show you the Falconry display this time. I only have a very short video at the end as the bird and his master never stopped moving so I decided stills were the wisest option. He flew the Hawk first and then you will see the Peregrine being flown.

The lady is red did all the commentary and she explained that these were totally wild birds and could not be fully trained. This became very evident when the Peregrine decided not to return but look for his own food. The master had to go up on a hill eventually and swing the lure and eventually he came closer and closer.

This is a lure. It is an object used in falconry, usually made of leather with a pair of bird wings or feathers attached. A Falconer swings the lure round and round on a cord for the falcon to chase for exercise. A lure also may be used as an object to train the falcon to retrieve.

This is the Peregrine Falcon.

The peregrine falcon is arguably the fastest bird in the sky. Its streamlined body, powerful muscles and swept-back wing shape are perfect for fast flight.

During level flight, with motion generated by wing-beats alone, they can reach speeds between 40-60 mph. This is one of the fastest known speeds for level flight with only a few species of duck, wader and pigeon known to reach similar speeds in comparable flight.

Most species of wild bird will have many different flying styles which they use in different situations. Birds will reach different speeds during these different flight styles. Migrating birds will often have a fast and steady rhythm, often using the wind to assist them. General flight will be more pedestrian whilst display flights and predator prey interactions can result in short sharp bursts of fast flight. It is during aerial pursuit where extremely fast speeds are reached by both predator and prey and this is where the peregrine is in a league of its own.

Birds of prey often use a controlled dive known as a stoop whilst hunting. This hunting technique is amongst the most spectacular of wildlife behaviour across the animal kingdom.

The actual speed that a peregrine reaches in a stoop will be effected by the wind speed and duration of the dive, which will vary in every situation. Because of these variables there is not a confirmed top speed however it is thought that it is possible for a peregrine in ideal conditions to reach speeds of up to 200 mph which is phenomenal.

The forces that the peregrine is exposed to during a stoop are mind boggling. What makes it even more fascinating is that at the end of the stoop, this unique raptor is still able to deliver a controlled blow and to carry away the unfortunate victim.

All the birds below were at the masters tent and he said he would be flying one of the Owls in the afternoon, however we did not stay to see that as it was so hot and we were both dying of heat exhaustion!!

Kestrel

I hope you enjoyed coming with me to see these beautiful birds. It is not often you can see them at close quarters and to see them in action.

The very short video can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/CPa0CKAH-No

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will return soon.I am linking up with The Bird D'Port

Friday, 30 August 2013

For this post, I am going back to the day Sharon arrived from Northern Ireland and also to tell you a little about Appley Tower (requested by another blogger). This sign was up on a little cafe just overlooking the Appley beach.

This is the view from the table I was sitting at and you can see Appley Tower in the middle of the shot. Appley tower is situated East of Ryde and can only really be
qualified as an interesting curiosity and conversation piece. It was originally part of the Appley Towers
estate being the seat of the Hutt family and latterly of that of Sir Hedworth
Williamson.

The estate is
no longer there. It is right on the
water's edge and at the headland. Appley
Tower It is the only survivor of the estate today. It is Grade 2 listed building, early to mid
C19. It has a fairly squat tower of
coursed rubble with ashlar dressings. Splayed base, machicollation and
crenellatedparapet, corbelled turret with slit lights. Towards the sea, there is a rectangular stone
bay window with inclined face, on stone brackets. Hipped tiled roof over with overhanging bracketed
eaves. Stone steps with rubble parapet curve up from East side to asmall
terrace in front of rectangular entrance bay facing South. Four centred arch to
blocked door in ashlar surround. Above on wall a plaque with the Appley Arms.
Below terrace, on ground floor, another 4 centred doorway in plain ashlar
surround.

Local legend claims that this Victorian gothic construction
was erected for the amusement of Mary of Teck who married King George V. Her
previous fiance, George's elder brother Albert Victor, died shortly after their
engagement aged twenty-eight and Mary, perhaps unwilling to let the crown of
England escape her, married George as the next heir.

Finding Osborne House
tiresome she often escaped to Appley Towers while her husband was busy sailing.
Unsurprisingly this gave rise to speculation as to her relationship with the
owner.

While waiting for Sharon to arrive at the ferry terminal at the end of the pier, I saw Black headed Gulls and these 2 Little Egrets.

Before Sharon's ferry arrived, the Hoovercraft came in, right up the sand. I have a short video at the end regarding this and the pier's train.

At last, Sharon's Ferry arrived and Sharon was all smiles as she set foot on the Isle of Wight for the first titme.

Later that evening, we took a walk and these 2 photographs were the sunset.

This was a moon that evening.

The short video can be accessed at http://youtu.be/eLr2YXC_KAoIf there is a black space below,click it and the video will appear.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you will visit again soon.

Thanks to all bloggers with answer to my unknowns and corrections especially to Trevor from The Herald who has helped and encouraged me a lot.

Thursday, 29 August 2013

I had my orders (from some bloggers!) when coming on holidays to the I.O.W to look out for different Butterflies etc than I see at home in Northern Ireland. This I have done and have tried to name most of them. Any corrections will be most welcome and helpful to me.

Emerald Damselfly - Common Spreadwing

Emerald Damselfly close up

Migrant Hawker

Migrant Hawker close up

Water Ladybird (anisosticta 19-punctta) it can have anything from 15 to 21
spots and changes colour from orange/red (summer) to off White (winter).

Common Blue underside female

Lesser Marsh Grasshopper (chothippus albomarginatus)

Green-veined Butterfly on Verbena bonariensis

Holly Blue

Holly Blue

Honeybee

Large White female

Large White female

Large White male

Red Admiral

Ruddy Darter

Ruddy Darter mating

Small Copper

Small Copper

Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood

Waspspider

Wall Brown

Wall Brown

Ladybird Pupae (poss. a 7 spot or a Harlequin Ladybird)

This is a short video taken of white butterflies and can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/1cmj_nMhpTMIf there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed seeing the insects I saw on the Isle of Wight.

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About Me

I have retired from a medical background, as well as teaching a 3 year City and Guilds; and also running a Bed and Breakfast. I have taken up bird watching later in life however I became very enthusiastic from the beginning and was greatly encouraged by other bird watchers. For the past 9 years I have led a bird group in my town and have become a guest speaker on cruise ships talking about Birds around the world. I have travelled quite a bit, in particular to Australia where one of my daughters lives. I have now as many birding friends there as at home in Northern Ireland. I love Nature and being able to share that with others of like mind. I also like photography and do my best to photograph birds although I seem to be also very eclectic in what I photograph and blog these days.
I live in Northern Ireland which is part of the UK and it is a beautiful place to live however I love travelling to see places and birds that I have never seen before.